Skip to comments.
Stealth coating based on squid skin could make soldiers invisible to night vision
Telegraph ^
| 9/10/13
| Richard Gray
Posted on 09/21/2013 1:54:51 PM PDT by LibWhacker
Camouflaged clothing that mimics squid skin is being developed to hide soldiers from night vision equipment.
Most camouflage materials used to disguise soldiers and vehicles during the day show up easily when viewed through night vision goggles and infrared cameras.
This is because leaves and other foliage reflect infrared light in a different way to other fabrics and materials.
However, scientists at the University of California Irvine have created a new stealth coating that can change the way it reflects infrared light on command.
The films, which are around 100,000 times thinner than a human hair, can be switched on and off using a chemical signal.
Tests conducted by the researchers have shown that they can make an orange surface blend into green foliage when the coating is activated.
The technology mimics the active camouflage used by squid, where they change the colour and even the texture of their skin to blend into the background.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
TOPICS: Business/Economy; Military/Veterans; Science
KEYWORDS: camouflage; invisible; night; nightvisiongoggles; skin; soldiers; squid; stealth; vision
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-24 next last
To: LibWhacker
maybe something that could have been kept quiet??
To: LibWhacker
"No"
3
posted on
09/21/2013 1:57:31 PM PDT
by
COBOL2Java
(I'm a Christian, pro-life, pro-gun, Reaganite. The GOP hates me. Why should I vote for them?)
To: LibWhacker
Not that it would work. Obama’s military will use this to have rainbow glow uniforms.
4
posted on
09/21/2013 2:01:49 PM PDT
by
Hardraade
(http://junipersec.wordpress.com (Obama: the bearded lady of the Muslim Brotherhood))
To: LibWhacker
Army soldiers are going to be wearing Navy uniforms?
5
posted on
09/21/2013 2:03:43 PM PDT
by
saganite
(What happens to taglines? Is there a termination date?)
To: Big Giant Head
To: Sacajaweau
7
posted on
09/21/2013 2:12:39 PM PDT
by
MeshugeMikey
( Un-Documented Journalist / Block Captain..Tyranny Response Team)
To: LibWhacker
without a new New NEW Debt Ceiling..Be necessary?....
8
posted on
09/21/2013 2:13:37 PM PDT
by
MeshugeMikey
( Un-Documented Journalist / Block Captain..Tyranny Response Team)
To: Sacajaweau
I remember reading stuff about this in a popular science a couple of years ago. My guess is that the real secret stuff is much cooler than this. No pun intended.
9
posted on
09/21/2013 2:18:23 PM PDT
by
Vermont Lt
(Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Who will watch the watchers?)
To: LibWhacker
What about thermal?
Right, thought so.
To: LibWhacker
The films, which are around 100,000 times thinner than a human hairColor me skeptical. A human hair is ~50 microns. 100Kx thinner would get you down into the atomic or even subatomic scale, I think.
50 microns = 50,000 nanometers. So 100Kx thinner would be .5 nm.
The diameter of a helium atom is .1 nm.
11
posted on
09/21/2013 3:09:53 PM PDT
by
Sherman Logan
(Mark Steyn: "In the Middle East, the enemy of our enemy is also our enemy.")
To: Sherman Logan
Damned facts getting in the way of a good story.
12
posted on
09/21/2013 3:15:58 PM PDT
by
Vermont Lt
(Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Who will watch the watchers?)
To: LibWhacker
13
posted on
09/21/2013 3:17:33 PM PDT
by
Conspiracy Guy
(To stay calm during these tumultuous times, I take Damitol. Ask your Doctor if it's right for you.)
To: saganite
The Marines will be happy to find out Squids are good for something.
14
posted on
09/21/2013 4:04:43 PM PDT
by
DeWalt
To: LibWhacker
Yes, but how many Squids will it take to skin to clothe a soldier or marine?
Dare I say as many as you can run down!
(Sorry Navy, we love you)
15
posted on
09/21/2013 4:33:00 PM PDT
by
AKinAK
(Keep your powder dry pilgrim.)
To: LibWhacker
New....”Cthulu Coating” for the stealthy....9 out of 10 Cultists recommend it.....
16
posted on
09/21/2013 4:50:18 PM PDT
by
GenXteacher
(You have chosen dishonor to avoid war; you shall have war also.)
To: The KG9 Kid
What about thermal?Exactly. That's the kicker.
17
posted on
09/21/2013 5:07:55 PM PDT
by
bgill
(This reply was mined before it was posted.)
To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; ...
18
posted on
09/21/2013 5:42:00 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(It's no coincidence that some "conservatives" echo the hard left.)
To: LibWhacker
How would this help in the middle east against IED’s?
19
posted on
09/21/2013 6:08:54 PM PDT
by
Eaker
(Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life. Robert A. Heinlein.)
To: LibWhacker
How would this help in the middle east against IED’s?
20
posted on
09/21/2013 6:26:06 PM PDT
by
Eaker
(Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life. Robert A. Heinlein.)
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-24 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson